Audi Luckey, Palo Duro basketball, Sr.
On the court: The Dons are Luckey to have this senior, a three-year letterwinner who is a huge reason Palo Duro holds sole possession of the District 3-5A lead. Last week Luckey continued to lead PD with a pair of big games to help keep the Dons undefeated in district. He scored 24 points to help Palo Duro get past Plainview 71-68 to start the week, then he topped that with 26 points in an 83-46 rout of Caprock. That typified Luckey’s offensive play this season, as he far and away leads Palo Duro in scoring with 23.2 points a game and is shooting an impressive 52.6 percent from the field. Largely because of that, the Dons are 15-7 and 3-0 in district, a half-game ahead of Amarillo High. Friday night, the Dons will visit Amarillo High to close out the first half of district play in a game which will likely determine who starts the second half of 3-5A with sole possession of the district lead.
Coach Jeff Evans: “He’s been consistently scoring well for us. Last year with five guys in double figures the points were spread out a lot, but he still was the leading scorer on that team, so we knew he had the ability to shoulder a little more of that burden this year. I don’t think I’m surprised by it. We kind of felt like he was that player last year and he’s a year older and a year better. He’s got more responsibility on this team. He definitely has a knack for figuring out how to do what he needs to do to help us win. He’s also come up with big defensive plays early in games to get us going. He’s a playmaker and everybody we play knows that. That’s why his scoring has dropped off a little. The first eight or nine games a year he was averaging 29.6 at one point. He also does a good job of finding other people.”
Luckey: “I knew I was going to have to be the one to step up and take more shots. We had a bunch of seniors leave who were all scoring all around so I knew they were depending on me to score the ball. When we had the nondistrict games I was already preparing, getting more shots up, trying to attack more. I knew in district they were going to be more focused on me. I had a little shooting slump but it’s getting back to where it needed to be. Most teams are used to me attacking. I already knew teams were going to be picking on me once district started. I trust in my teammates and kick it out to them to find the open shot. I know when I need to get it out. I think it’s going to be a big crowd (at Amarillo High) and I’m ready for it. We all are. They beat us twice last year so I’m looking to get revenge.”
About Luckey
Favorite band or musician: NBA Young Boy
Favorite social media platform: Snapchat
Favorite athlete: Kyrie Irving
Bet you didn’t know: Didn’t use to like basketball, but after his father wanted him to play he began to love it.
Parents: Corey and Cynthia Lee